Shawn Mason

Tight, fast and furious is the pace Raised Fist set on this, their amazing sophomore release, Stronger than Ever. Following up a shaky fisrt album, these Swedish hardcore heroes establish themselves as real contenders in the genre. Comparisons to Earth Crisis, Agnostic Front, and Christ on a Crutch are sure to come to mind. Uplifting and empowering, the title track tears off, striking out at “shit-talkers” and “backstabbers” in true hardcore style. Cold and somber is the mood set by “Torn Apart”, easily the best song on the album. This mood doesn’t last for long, though, as guitar and vocals lash out, fighting for supremacy. Strong, introspective lyrics (indicative of the entire album) thrive here with tight “youth crew” vocals backing them up.
Although the disc is relatively short, (barely 25 minutes long) it remains intense throughout, and is a near perfect example of fast, melodic hardcore.
  Read Full Review >>